Glossary of Buddhist words/Glossary of devotional words

Kannou Dokyo means the responsive communion between the Buddha (Gohonzon) and the practitioners. ‘Kan’ is the spiritual function of the believers to realize the Buddha’s holy mercy and power, that is the power of faith. ‘O’ is the Buddha’s and the Dharma’s responsive saving activity, that is, the Buddha’s power (Butsuriki), the power of the Dharma (Dharma Riki) and the power of faith (Shinriki).

Kechien means to establish the Dharma ties with someone who has not yet encountered Buddhist teachings. One’s connection with the Dharma is made by any reaction of the mind to the Dharma which is engraved deep in the deep mind (Araya Shiki) on the recommendation of the teaching. To believe in the Buddhist teaching obediently on hearing it and engage in the practice is referred to as a favorable condition (Junnen). To oppose the teaching without believing it is referred to as a reverse condition (Gyakuen). In either case, once the condition has been made with the Dharma, it will be maintained without being broken. Therefore, a reverse condition sometimes can be transformed into a favorable condition and those who protest against the faith are said to believe in the Dharma and to become faithful practitioners in the end.

Kigan or Gokigan is a prayer to the Gohozon for one’s wishes to be fulfilled. A mere prayer, is not regarded as a sincere and true prayer. According to the law of cause and effect based on the teachings of Buddhism, first of all, we should engage in the practices as the cause to invite the Goriyaku as the effect. Then what kind of prayer is the best cause for all sorts of desires to be fulfilled? Nissen Shonin stated in his Gokyoka, “Chant the Odaimoku with the prayer, ‘May the teaching and the practice propagate widely to others’ as your foremost prayer. Your worldly wishes will be heard without doubt.

Kudoku is good deeds which produce good rewards for the present time and for the future as merits. And what one gains by making merits becomes virtues. Great Master Tendai (Tendai Daishi Chigi) explained in his work ‘Konke Kyo Gengi’ that Kudoku means the holy spiritual energy which can remove any misfortune or wickedness and invite happiness and good fortune to those who engage in Buddhist practices. Nissen Shonin stated in his Gokyoka, Omogami ni tsumishi kudoku wa hi nimo yakuzu Hito mo nusumazu mochite yukunari Only the good deeds (Kudoku) which you have accumulated through the religious activities can be brought to the future world with your soul as treasures. The good deeds which you hold can never be stolen from you and can never be burned when you are cremated.

Kyoke means to convert others to the true teaching by instructing and guiding. Converting others to HBS is designated as Kyoke and educating newly converted members as Ikusei in HBS. Originally, the meaning of Kyoke is (1) priests’ preaching the teachings to lay followers, (2) converter’s guidance of newly converted and (3) parents’ effort to make their sons and daughters realize the importance of the faith.